Suburban website offers discounts, help to charities

A new suburban website that will donate a portion of its proceeds to nonprofits will launch today.

Mulamu.com, a website that plays off the word mula, or money, is expected to offer consumers a daily deal with discounts on restaurants and services from businesses around Chicago and the suburbs. About 18,000 people, mostly those connected to charities or are donors, already have registered at the site that aims to support local schools, faith-based groups and charities, said Mulamu President and CEO Mark Hadding of Gurnee.

"We wanted to reach out to the nonprofit community and see how we can best work with them," Hadding said.

The site is based in Winnetka, but will be moving soon to Deerfield as it plans to expand its staff, he said.

Hadding, along with co-founders Steven White of Chicago, David Almario of Chicago and David Bennett of Vernon Hills, received angel funding of "several hundred thousand dollars" to research the concept through focus groups and develop the website. Hadding has developed other startups, including one under Divine, a well-known incubator before the infamous dot-com bust about 10 years ago.

Those who register on Mulamu.com will get a daily e-mail offering up to 90 percent discount on a restaurant meal, service or product. The consumer selects a charity or other nonprofit to receive the proceeds from the sale.

Hadding said the sale is then split in two with the merchant receiving half and Mulamu.com receiving the other half. Of the amount going to Mulamu.com, about 10 percent to 20 percent goes to the nonprofit.

Businesses that have agreed to provide specials include Pete Miller's Steakhouse, Red Cottage and Salon and Spa, and restaurant chain Go Roma, which will provide the first offer today for its locations in Chicago, Deerfield, Lincolnshire, Northbrook and Warrenville.

Currently only businesses in the Chicago and suburban area are participating, but Hadding hopes to expand to other cities in the future.

Since the site is new, its staff is small. Besides the four executives, there are only three sales people. But more are expected to be hired later, Hadding said.

"We haven't collected any salaries yet, but we've put in a lot of sweat equity," Hadding said.